Why is fighting allowed in some sports and not others?

[dieselboy]

Like, in Baseball, or Hockey, a fight breaks out, no big deal.

If that happens in basketball, or happened that often in football, that would never fly. Why is it ok?

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Uh... in hockey there's a specific penalty called fighting, and in baseball many people get suspended...

[Vince]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Because it's not common.

I think fighting in Hockey is a joke and is really on to fire up the other team.

Whereas, in Basketball, if two players fight, they really get personal about it and actually want to badly hurt the other guy.

[SPTO]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

You call running around and giving each other love taps "fighting" in baseball?

As to hockey, well it's the whole rough, blue collar aspect of the game. I seriously don't know how the game survived the goonism of the '70s with the Broad Street Bullies without the sport seriously being damaged. I guess that decade was what made people think fights are a natural part of the game tho.

Back in the old days there would be fights but it wouldn't be bench clearing affairs where everybody is wailing on each other.

[Yosemite Dan]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Well in Baseball it's as rare as Basketball and Football and there are always multi game suspensions as a result. In hockey it's always been a complete joke as it's more staged than wrestling. The NHL once thought it was necessary to attract viewers but all it's really done is cheapen the sport and is a big reason why the league isn't taken seriously in the US. They equate it to rollerball. The very fact that there is never fights in international play and there are rarely fights in the playoffs especially in the 3rd period when the "intensity" is the highest then you know it's something the NHL can do without. If they handed out multi-game suspensions like the other sports then you would see it magically disappear much like if you did the same for high sticking, intentional or not, then you would see how quick the players would keep thier sticks down. The NHL has always been gutless so it's image has suffered greatly as a result.

Just imagine how silly it would look in the NBA if the 2 tough guys in a game (like Alonzo Mourning and Ben Wallace for example) decided to go to center court and duke it out to inspire thier teams after challenging each other during a free throw. In the NHL it happens almost every game.

[Highlight]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

I think in hockey it's alot harder for a fan to get on the ice during a fight compared to baseball or basketball when you are a hop away from getting involved and getting your a$$ waxed all over the place. Have you ever seen a fan get in the wrestling ring during a match....F'n funny.

[BigRed]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Well in Baseball it's as rare as Basketball and Football and there are always multi game suspensions as a result. In hockey it's always been a complete joke as it's more staged than wrestling. The NHL once thought it was necessary to attract viewers but all it's really done is cheapen the sport and is a big reason why the league isn't taken seriously in the US. They equate it to rollerball. The very fact that there is never fights in international play and there are rarely fights in the playoffs especially in the 3rd period when the "intensity" is the highest then you know it's something the NHL can do without. If they handed out multi-game suspensions like the other sports then you would see it magically disappear much like if you did the same for high sticking, intentional or not, then you would see how quick the players would keep thier sticks down. The NHL has always been gutless so it's image has suffered greatly as a result.

Just imagine how silly it would look in the NBA if the 2 tough guys in a game (like Alonzo Mourning and Ben Wallace for example) decided to go to center court and duke it out to inspire thier teams after challenging each other during a free throw. In the NHL it happens almost every game.

Fighting was a big part of the North American style of hockey, not just a staged joke.

First of all, fighting was used to self police the teams. Since star players seem to be targeted, the idea of answering for your actions was a deterent to violence.

Secondly, there has been a direct correlation between stiffer fighting penalties/instigator penalties and the number of serious injuries caused by high sticks and slashes.

Basically, players have no fear of their actions anymore and are more willing to use the stick as a weapon. Back in the day, they'd have had some dude whoop their a$$ for it. Now, they might get two minutes (if the ref sees it) and nothing else.

And there is a difference in North American and European hockey. Where this comes in to play is the size of the rink (European hockey uses a much larger rink) which allows for more open room and allows more skilled players to aviod others.

[stalsy2310]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

No need to fight in football, everyone has pads on. Also if your that mad at a person just lay him out in the field. That simple.

400th Post

[Acid]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Awesome typo, diesel.

[jima]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Fighting was a big part of the North American style of hockey, not just a staged joke.

First of all, fighting was used to self police the teams. Since star players seem to be targeted, the idea of answering for your actions was a deterent to violence.

Secondly, there has been a direct correlation between stiffer fighting penalties/instigator penalties and the number of serious injuries caused by high sticks and slashes.

Basically, players have no fear of their actions anymore and are more willing to use the stick as a weapon. Back in the day, they'd have had some dude whoop their a$$ for it. Now, they might get two minutes (if the ref sees it) and nothing else.

And there is a difference in North American and European hockey. Where this comes in to play is the size of the rink (European hockey uses a much larger rink) which allows for more open room and allows more skilled players to aviod others.

Well said bigred!

[pk500]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Because it's not common.

I think fighting in Hockey is a joke and is really on to fire up the other team.

Whereas, in Basketball, if two players fight, they really get personal about it and actually want to badly hurt the other guy.

That's comical. Half of the fights in the NBA are nothing but sissy b*tch-slapping contests.

Yes, some fights in the NHL, especially among two goons, are more for firing up their side. But many, many fights in the NHL are born out of pure animosity. And the difference between NHL and NBA fights is that punches are actually landed with some regularity in the NHL.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Just imagine how silly it would look in the NBA if the 2 tough guys in a game (like Alonzo Mourning and Ben Wallace for example) decided to go to center court and duke it out to inspire thier teams after challenging each other during a free throw. In the NHL it happens almost every game.

Ill-informed. First, fights don't happen in almost every game in the NHL. Second, fights don't always happen at center ice. Third, you're comparing two skill players -- Mourning and Wallace -- with hockey goons. Most NHL players with Mourning and Wallace's skill sets aren't fighters.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Why is fighting aloud in some sports and not others?

Fighting was a big part of the North American style of hockey, not just a staged joke.

First of all, fighting was used to self police the teams. Since star players seem to be targeted, the idea of answering for your actions was a deterent to violence.

Secondly, there has been a direct correlation between stiffer fighting penalties/instigator penalties and the number of serious injuries caused by high sticks and slashes.

Basically, players have no fear of their actions anymore and are more willing to use the stick as a weapon. Back in the day, they'd have had some dude whoop their a$$ for it. Now, they might get two minutes (if the ref sees it) and nothing else.

And there is a difference in North American and European hockey. Where this comes in to play is the size of the rink (European hockey uses a much larger rink) which allows for more open room and allows more skilled players to aviod others.

At least someone in here knows what the hell he's talking about instead of those who have watched "Slap Shot" and seen movies of the Broad Street Bullies of the mid-70s and thinks hockey hasn't moved on from there. Good post.

Take care,
PK